IAN BAKER-FINCH knows he will be the centre of attention this week when he steps out for his first PGA Tour event in eight
years, but swears he’ll be without the demons of the mind that forced him from tournament play. He has nothing to prove, well maybe to himself, and he won’t be haunted of the day at Royal Troon in 1997 when he shot a first-round 92 that effectively ended his tournament career. "I’m going into it with a suck it and see kind of attitude,” IBF said of playing Colonial Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas, the event he won 20 years ago. "I think it will be difficult for me for I haven’t played at their level for such a long time. I just want to enjoy the experience. "Of course there will be pressure. I know The Golf Channel are going to play some of the stuff of me winning 20 years ago during the first two rounds and, if I don’t make the cut, well, I’m back in the commentary booth at the weekend,” the 1991 British Open champion added. SADDLING UP WITH SIM Michael Sim is headed back to the PGA Tour next year, maybe sooner if he can win for a third time this year on the Nationwide Tour, and Melbourne’s Toby Wilcox is going along for the ride with the young West Australian.
Wilcox is a scratch golfer and the club champion of Yarra Yarra, one of the top courses on the southern city’s sandbelt. Five years ago, they were the top players in the club’s pennant team.